Four men, aged 19 to 23, have been granted bail on a charge related to a Glock pistol that police said they recovered in a car in Glen around 11:45 p.m. on Dec. 18.
At the same time, police are investigating an AR-15, a prohibited rifle, which police said was recovered at one of the men’s homes.
On Dec. 20, at the Serious Offences Court, Senior Magistrate Colin John granted the men bail after hearing arguments from lawyers Jomo Thomas and Grant Connell.
The men, Altha James, a 19-year-old porter; Javid Grant, a 20-year-old bag boy; Kamal Ballantyne, a 23-year-old mechanic; and Vashon Thomas, a 20-year-old electrician, all residents of Glen, are charged that on Dec. 17, at Glen, they had one Glock 9mm pistol in their possession without a license issued under the Firearms Act.
Each of the men pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Crown Counsel Renee Simmons had requested that the men be remanded in custody as investigations were ongoing.
However, Counsel Thomas, citing case law, argued against the prosecutor’s application, saying that the court should not grant it based on the information that Simmons had presented.
After hearing the arguments, John granted each defendant bail in the sum of EC$20,000 with one surety and ordered them to report to the Calliaqua Police Station on Mondays and Wednesdays.
The men were each ordered to observe a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew at specific homes they gave to the court.
The next hearing in the matter is slated for Jan. 7, 2025.
The Police Public Relations and Complaint Department said that officers from the Glen Mobile Unit intercepted the men in a silver car.
Following their arrests, search warrants were executed at each of their homes, resulting in the discovery of an AR-15 rifle and “a substantial quantity of 5.56mm NATO ammunition” at one of the homes.
iWitness News was reliably informed that over 90 rounds of assorted ammunition were found at the home of one of the men.
Sources in the know tell iWitness News that one of the men was interviewed again on Tuesday — Christmas Eve — as prosecutors tried to determine whether to bring a charge in connection with the AR-15 rifle and ammunition.
preference i must say
Decoded whether to bring a charge? What kind of nonsense is that? The AR15 Rifle and ammunition was found at one of the men’s home and the police is deciding whether or not to file charges? Are we in a mickey mouse country? Hear what don’t charge them. Stewps!!